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Religious Sites in Italy

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Badia Fiorentina
Town: Florence Address: Via Dante Alighieri and Via del Proconsolo Phone: +39 055 287 389

Erected in the late 10th Century, this abbey was joined by a hospital a century later, and had its Romanesque church restructured into a Gothic style during the 14th Century. Another transformation followed in the 17th Century when the edifice acquired its Baroque features, while retaining several Romanesque and Gothic elements. Laden with a vast number of significant artworks, the church includes several masterpieces of the 15th Century such as 'The Apparition of the Virgin to Saint Bernard' by Filippino Lippi, the 18th-century murals by Giovanni Domenico Ferretti, the frescoes by Giovanni di Consalvo and Bronzino plus a line of important tombstones.

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Basilica di S. Ambrogio
Town: Milan Address: Piazza Sant'Ambrogio 15 Phone: +39 2 8645 0895 e-mail: segreteriaparrocchiale@tin.it

The basilica of St Ambrogio is an emblematic church of Milan. Built on the tombs of St Gervasio and St Protasio, it dates back to the end of the 4th Century. Later an altar and a monastery were built on this site. During the 8th Century it was mainly renovated by the Benedictines and an atrium was added. In the 12th Century the Canonici bell tower was built. The monastery features an amazing façade, one of the best examples for the Lombard Romanesque architecture. The interior consists of a long body with three aisles which open on the secondary spaces and impressive chapels. They were built in the end of the 15th Century. The marvellous cloister and the convent are work of the famous Donato Bramante. Inside there are a few interesting sights, such as the ciborium, the gold altar and early Christian mosaics.

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Basilica di S. Nazaro Maggiore
Town: Milan Address: Piazza San Nazaro in Brolo Phone: +39 2 7252 4301

The basilica of San Nazaro Maggiore or San Nazaro in Brolo is a marvellous church in Milan. The original basilica was founded in the 4th Century, built by St Ambrose, placed near the road from Milan to Rome. It was dedicated to the Apostles to whom it owes its other name: Basilica Apostolorum. Some relics of the Apostles were housed in the church. The shrine was rebuilt several times. The current basilica is work of Enrico Villa from 1963. Inside there are lots of archaeological remains and art works including epigraphs from the 5th Century and Renaissance and Neoclassical ornaments. The building has Greek cross layout, characteristic for the Christian martyrium with Eastern influences. The Trivulzio Chapel, built in the early 16th Century, with an octagonal interior and a square exterior was built as a family mausoleum.

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Basilica di San Calimero
Town: Milan

The Basilica di San Calimero is a historic church in Neo-Romantic style, situated in Milan. It was founded in the 5th Century, but in the end of the 19th Century it was basically rebuilt by architect Angelo Colla. Today still can be seen some features of the original building like the crypt dating back to the 16th Century, with wonderful frescoes by the Fiammenghini. The apse is decorated with marvellous wallpainting of Madonna and two female Saints from the 15th Century. Worth seeing are the relics of Calimerius’ relics, kept in the crypt.

Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano

Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano , by Bogdan and Delia Bratosin

Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Town: Rome Address: Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4 Phone: +39 06 6988 6452

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Often referred to as as the Mother of all Churches, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, is one of the major religious sites in Rome that every year welcomes pilgrims from around the world. Traditionally it is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, from where, the Pope gives his annual benediction on Maundy Thursday during the Holy Week.
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Basilica di San Lorenzo
Town: Florence Address: Piazza Di San Lorenzo Phone: +39 055 216 634
Website: http://www.sanlorenzo.firenze.it/
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This Renaissance piece by Brunelleschi receives flocks of visitors for its Medici Chapels, featuring burial places of several representatives of the infamous family. Donatello, the preferred artist of the Medici family, is also buried here. Both of the basilica's constituents, Biblioteca Laurenziana and the Chapels, offer a clear reference to the Medici's grandeur. Otherwise, this 4th-century structure displays an excellent variety of artefacts. The centrepiece, Desiderio da Settignano's Altar of the Sacrament, is only a fraction of the lavish interiors, which are adorned with works by Donatello and Filippo Lippi, to name but a few.

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Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore
Town: Milan Address: Corso di Porta Ticinese 40 Phone: +39 2 8940 4129

Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore (Basilica of Saint Lawrence) is a majestic church, situated in Milan. It is considered to be one of the oldest buildings in the city and is with major importance for the Western Christianity. It was built in the 4th-5th Century, and dedicated to St Lawrence. The church was basically renovated in the 16th Century, but some of the original Byzantine features were kept dating from the early Christian era, including the centre building, the four towers and chapels. Materials for the constructing of the church were taken from the nearby amphitheatre and other Roman sites. The original interior of the basilica consisted of walls, covered by marble lower down and by mosaics higher up depicting sacred scenes and saints. There is a majestic rectangular portal from the Roman era which leads to the chapel of Sant Aquilino, in octagonal shape where a tomb with the remains of St Lorenzo and St Ippolito are placed. The church has been under long renovations a

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Basilica di San Marco
Town: Venice Address: Piazza San Marco 1 Phone: +39 41 270 83 11 e-mail: biblioteca.proc@patriarcato.venezia.it
Website: www.basilicasanmarco.it
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The Basilica di San Marco is undoubtedly the most famous religious site in Venice, and at the same time a world-class tourist attraction. The majestic five-domed construction is one of the finest and best preserved examples of Byzantine architecture. The basilica is remarkable above all with its elaborately decorated facade and the huge surface of over 2 kilometres of extremely valuable mosaics in Byzantine and Gothic style covering the domes and the vaults of the temple. Since the beginning of the 9th Century Basilica di San Marco has been situated at Piazza San Marco, which emerged as a court in front of this holy place. The basilica is connected to the Doge's Palace and its magnificent appearance was meant to symbolise the wealth and glory of Venice in the Middle Ages. It is no accident that the basilica was nicknamed 'The Church of Gold' in the 11th Century.
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